How To Fix BF00195 - Invalid character in text "&"

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: BF00 - FI: Application base reports

• Message number: 195

• Message text: Invalid character in text "&"

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message BF00195 - Invalid character in text "&" ?

  The SAP error message BF00195, which states "Invalid character in text '&'", typically occurs when there is an invalid character in a text field that does not conform to the expected format or character set. This error is often encountered in various SAP modules, especially when dealing with text fields in master data, transaction data, or during data uploads.
  Cause:
  
  Invalid Characters: The presence of special characters or symbols that are not allowed in the specific text field. In this case, the ampersand (&) is causing the issue.
  Data Format: The text field may have restrictions on the type of characters that can be used, such as only allowing alphanumeric characters.
  Encoding Issues: If data is being imported from an external source, there may be encoding issues that introduce invalid characters.
  
  Solution:
  
  Identify the Source: Determine where the invalid character is coming from. This could be from user input, data uploads, or data migration processes.
  Remove or Replace Invalid Characters: 
  
  If you have access to the data, manually check the text fields for the presence of the & character and remove or replace it with a valid character.
  If the data is being uploaded, preprocess the data to clean it up before the upload.
  
  
  Use Valid Characters: Ensure that any text entered into the system adheres to the allowed character set for that specific field.
  Check Field Specifications: Review the field specifications in the SAP documentation or configuration to understand what characters are permitted.
  Data Validation: Implement data validation checks in your data entry or upload processes to catch invalid characters before they cause errors.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific guidance or patches related to this error message. SAP frequently updates its knowledge base with solutions for common issues.
  Transaction Codes: If you are working with specific transaction codes (like SE11 for data dictionary, SE37 for function modules, etc.), you may want to check the relevant configurations or data definitions.
  User Exits or BAdIs: If you are customizing SAP, consider implementing user exits or BAdIs to validate text fields before they are processed.
  
  By addressing the invalid character issue and ensuring that only valid data is entered into the system, you should be able to resolve the BF00195 error.